The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-07-07
THE NEW UMPIRE.

the brightest lellOW IN IrOttcrVilie anu
popular, too, but lately nobody seems to
speak TO him and there is little left of his
old geniality.
Charley" said to him the other day,
"what is the matter with your"
''Oh, nothing" answered Charley de-
jectedly.
"Nonscnse," 1 replied, 'sthere is some
thing wrong. What is its Anything
can help you about?n
"Wcll," he said with sigh, sit isn't
anything serious. The trouble, if it can
be called trouble, dates from the founda-
ton of the Trotterville Baseball club"
'Why, l thought you were active in
getting up the club?'
$50 was; so / was. It's good club,
too, but you see 1 don't play and am
the umpire and''-
~ see how it is"
eyes, that's what's the matter. don't
seem to be able to please anybody.
They're all down on me-"
"Look here" said, 81 know fellow
in Detroit that used to be league UNI
pire. Let me bring him over. He is a
little fellow, but don't think they will
growl much at his decisions"
Next day l met Bill Higgins and asked
him to come over to Trotterville and UNI
pire game, and posted him on the kind
of kickers the Trottervillians were. Hig
gins is an Englishman, who used to be
one of the cowboys in Buffalo Bills Wild
West show, but, for some reason, Higgins
did not care to 60 back to England with
the company, and so is out of job just
now. Bill used to do the fancy shooting
and some of the lasso exercises, and is q
tough customer.
When we got to the Trotterville grounds
the game was in progress and Charley was
unIpiring.
Zone strike" he cried, as the ball came
over the plate.
"What's that you say" cried the cap
tain of the ms, as he marched up threat
eningly to the umpire.
II said strike"
"That wasn't no strike; the ball was
below the knee" This statement was
loudly corroborated by the man ut the
bat.
"Well, I thought it was strike" said
the umpire.
cit wasn't all the same" the ms were
unanimous in saying.
"All right. Call it one ball Them
"What's that! what's that' yelled the
captain of the outs, as he marched from
the field.
"Oh, come now, go On with the game, I"
said the bewildered umpire.
"You said O strike" shouted the out
captain, land, by George, you've got to
stick to it."
ssNot if he was wrong, as he admits .,
said the in captain.
"Wrong nothing. It's q strike. He
said so. Hang such umpiring."
''See here" said the umpire, anxious
for peace, ''let's call that off and begin
again"
After some grumbling this was agreed
to, and the game went on. The man at
the bat hit the ball and ran for the first
base. The ball was very cleverly stopped
by the second baseman and thrown to first,
ball and batsman getting there about the
same time. The umpire had run down to
first and stood there with indecision.
"Darn if know which it is, " he said help
lessly. There was howl at this remark.
''He's outp' yelled the outs. "Safe! safer
shouted the ms, all gathering around the
| first base. There was wild wrangle be-
tween the two captains, and when they
turned to appeal to the umpire they found
that that individual had taken the oppor-
tunity to get over the fence and go home.
'This gentleman" said to the two
| captains, was umpire in the league last
summer. Perhaps he would see the game
| through for you" They united in invit-
| ing him to take the vacant post and he
| consented. The new umpire threw off his
coat and unwound from his body long,
thin rope which he flung on the ground.
Then he frightened his belt and said:
| 'Toss that ball here"
L f1,a l,ol a.
| "That balls no good" said the new
umpire. ....
''What's the matter with ity'' growled
"Weu, it's no good That's what's the
matter with it,"
"Well, we amt league club, and we
can't afford no dollar an half balls On
this ground" said the captain, somewhat
cowed by the resolute demeanor of the
| little umpire. s-.s.... F..
| The umpire flung the ball into the air,
then putting his hand to his hip pulled out
| a big revolver and fired as it came down.
| The baseball flew into q dozen pieces.
| There was cry of amazemcnt and dis
may. They had no other ball. The UNI
pire went to where his coat was lying on
the ground, brought from the pocket q
| familiar red labeled box, tore it open,
| took out new ball and tossed it to the
| pitcher.
'sThere," he said 'sI'll make you a pres
ent of that one. Now, then, play ball"
Up came the ball.
some ball!''
| Up it came again.
''Two ballsp' -.
"Three ballsI'
Tho pitcher took fresh hold on the
ball and rubbed it in the sand.
"Four balls"
Next time the ratified pitcher flung wide
of the plate.
GIVE balls. Take your base"
The batsman dropped his club and
trotted down to first base. The captain
Of the outs came marching towards the
umpire, mad clear through.
The umpire at once put his hand to bis
hip and cried:
"What are you coming out of the field
for, sir?''
oil want to speak to the pitcher, .
said the captain.
''All right" said the umpire; "be quick
about it,
They conversed for moment, then thu
captain said: ~ suppose / can change
pitchers?'
| LIS, IL AOu nave stuOlucI pltCIcE III liz
field.n
The pitcher was sent to center field and
the center man went into the box. II,
pitched slow and curveless ball, but i
went over the plate every time.
Zone strike"
'Two strikes"
ssHit at it, said the in CAPTAIN.
"Three Strikes
"Four strikes. Strikers out"
The in captain strobe up to the umpire
"See here" he began.
swell, what it is? Nothing against m!
umpiring hope" said the umpire, reach
ing down and taking villainous looking
scalping knife out of his boot leg.
sOh, no, }" faltered the captain, with ;
wan smile. 81 was going to say that he'
q daisy pitcher, isn't hes'
The next man was at the bat, and a
th- nif"hAr th--'v Tho hell the man al